Iron With Compact Base

The present disclosure relates to the general technical field of laundry appliances, and more specifically to irons with a separate base.

Among the laundry appliances, irons are used to remove creases and wrinkles from garments and fabrics through a combination of heat and pressure.

Irons can have a separate base on which the iron's soleplate rests when the appliance is not in use. These appliances can have a steam generation feature to facilitate ironing. The appliance then comprises a tank for supplying water to the steam generator, which can be located in the base or in the iron. To increase the compactness of the iron and the capacity of the water tank, the water tank can be built into the base and the steam generator can be supplied with water from the tank built into the base by means of a pump.

Document EP 3 294 946 describes such an iron with a portable base incorporating a tank, a steam generator built into the iron, and a power cord connecting the base and the iron. In this document, the iron has a handle that is offset relative to the body of the iron and the iron's soleplate, as well as its handle, rest on the base when the appliance is not in use. As such, said appliances, and particularly their bases, are still quite bulky, which can make carrying and storing these irons more difficult.

One of the purposes of this application is to remedy the aforementioned disadvantages by providing a more compact laundry appliance, in particular comprising an iron and a base with greater compactness.

The present application relates to a household laundry appliance comprising an iron and a base, advantageously connected to the iron by a lead, in which the iron comprises a head, a soleplate fitted and attached to the head, and a handle extending from the head, the handle being offset relative to the soleplate, in which the head and the handle form a concave supporting portion and the base forms a convex docking portion designed to accommodate the supporting portion of the iron, the docking portion of the base having an interlocking shape relative to the supporting portion of the iron. This use of interlocking shapes for the base and the iron reduces the overall size of the appliance, particularly by making the base more compact. In particular, the docking portion of the base that supports the iron at the supporting portion of the iron extending between the handle and the head, the base can be shorter than the length of the iron and thus be quite compact. This makes carrying and storing the appliance easier. Moreover, this interlocking design ensures that the iron remains stable and secure on the base.

When the supporting portion of the iron is positioned on the docking portion of the base, at least part of the soleplate can project over the edge of the base. The base can thus be even more compact because it does not have the size constraints of having to accommodate the soleplate. Advantageously, most of the soleplate, and preferentially all of the soleplate, projects over the edge of the base when the supporting portion of the iron is positioned on the docking portion of the base.

The docking portion of the base can form a convex top and the supporting portion of the iron can form a concave hollow having an interlocking shape with the convex top of the docking portion of the base. Thus, the base is even more compact, the iron is held even more securely on the base and the risk of the iron tipping over is further reduced.

Seen from the side, the docking portion of the base can have a substantially triangular shape forming a convex top, and the convex top can have a cross-section that is substantially in the shape of an inverted U. The triangular shape of the docking portion further increases the compactness of the base and helps keep the iron in place on the base. The inverted U-shaped convex top further stabilizes the iron's hold on the base.

A tank can be provided in the base, the tank preferably having a capacity comprised between 300 and 500 ml and advantageously around 400 ml. The tank thus has sufficient autonomy while taking up little space, so that the base containing the tank remains compact. A pump can also be provided in the base to supply the iron with water from the tank.

A tank fill opening can be arranged in the tank near the convex top of the base. This makes filling the tank easier.

A connecting lead can be provided between the base and the iron.

The lead can comprise a power cord to power the iron and/or a hose to allow the flow of fluid from the tank to the iron.

The household appliance can further comprise magnetic means that help keep the iron in position on the base when the supporting portion of the iron is seated on the docking portion of the base, the magnetic means comprising, for example, a magnet housed in either the handle or the base. Thus, the iron rests stably on the base, with the risk of tipping over being further limited.

The docking portion of the base can comprise a head recess designed to accommodate the head of the iron, and a handle recess designed to accommodate the handle of the iron, the handle recess having, for example, a U-shaped cross-section. The iron's hold on the base is thus further improved and stabilized; the iron is positioned on the base with greater precision, and the risk of inadvertent movement is further reduced.

The handle can extend mainly in a longitudinal gripping direction and the soleplate can extend mainly in an ironing direction forming an angle α comprised between 30° and 40°, and advantageously around 35° with the longitudinal gripping direction. Such an angle α results from the interlocking shape of the iron and the base and helps ensure that the iron stays on the base while preserving the compactness of the base and the ergonomics of the iron.

The head of the iron can comprise a stand and the handle can comprise a beveled free end, so as to allow the iron to be set down resting on the beveled free end of the handle and the stand on the head. The stand and the beveled free end allow the iron to be set down stably on a supporting surface, with no contact between the soleplate and the surface on which the iron is set.

The household appliance can also comprise a side tab fitted and attached to one side of the base so as to accommodate a power cord on the base and/or a lead connecting the iron to the base in a space located between the side tab and a side wall of the base. Thus, the user can easily and neatly store the power cord and/or the lead.

The length of the base can be shorter than or equal to the length of the iron. The width of the base can be substantially equal to the width of the iron. The height of the base can be less than the height of the iron.

A non-limiting example of a household laundry appliance is shown in,and. The household appliance comprises an ironand a base. The ironcomprises a head, a soleplatefitted and attached to the head, and a handleextending from the head, the handlebeing offset relative to the soleplate.

The headand the handleform a concave supporting portion, and the baseforms a convex docking portion designed to accommodate the supporting portion of the iron. The docking portion of the basehas a shape that interlocks with the supporting portion of the iron.

This use of interlocking shapes for the baseand the ironreduces the overall size of the appliance, particularly by making the basemore compact. Indeed, instead of resting on its soleplate, the ironrests partially on its handleand partially on its head. The baseis therefore at least partially housed between the handleand the headof the iron, and does not have to be sized so that it can accommodate the soleplate. The design of the basecan thus be more compact. This makes carrying and storing the appliance easier. Moreover, this interlocking shape between the baseand the ironensures that the ironremains stable and secure on the base, with no risk of the irontipping over.

In the rest of the application, an ironing direction Dr coincides with a longer axis of the soleplatewhen the soleplateis set on a supporting surface such as a horizontal ironing board or floor. The terms “front” and “rear” are defined to mean that, when the soleplateof the ironis conventionally moved in the ironing direction Dr to remove wrinkles from a piece of clothing, the front end of the soleplateis the first part of the soleplateto come into contact with the portion of clothing to be ironed, and the rear end of the soleplateis the last part of the soleplateto come into contact with the portion of clothing to be ironed. A front part of the basecorresponds to a part of the docking portion designed to accommodate the headof the iron. A rear part of the basecorresponds to a part of the docking portion designed to accommodate the handleof the iron.

The ironis used for example for horizontal and/or vertical ironing.

The basecan comprise a substantially flat underside designed to rest on a horizontal plane-type supporting surface, such as an ironing board or a floor. The convex docking portion of the basecorresponds to an upper side of the base.

The baseis connected to an electric cord, not shown in the figures, enabling the baseto be connected to the household mains.

The ironcomprises a heating elementbuilt into the headof the iron. The heating elementcan be a die-cast part, made of aluminum for example, attached to the soleplateand comprising a resistor placed so as to enable heat exchange with the soleplate. In particular, the heating elementcan comprise one or more thermostatically controlled electric resistors. The heating elementcan further comprise a vapor chamber.

The household appliance further comprises a leadconnecting the baseand the iron. The leadsupplies the ironwith electricity when the baseis connected to the mains, so that the heating elementarranged in the headof the iron, and therefore the soleplate, can be heated. The basecan comprise a tankand an electric pump. Such a tanklocated in the baseallows for a more compact and lighter iron. The tankcan be fixed in the baseto simplify the design, or removable to facilitate filling.

The tankpreferably has a capacity of around 400 ml. The tankthus has sufficient autonomy while taking up little space, so that the basecontaining the tankremains compact.

The leadcomprises a hose allowing fluid to flow from the baseto the iron. The length of the leadcan be comprised between 1 and 2.5 m and substantially equal to 1.8 m. The pumpis operated by a triggerplaced under the handle.

The pumpdraws water from the tankand sends it to the vapor chamberof the ironvia the hose in the lead.

The handleis offset relative to the soleplate. “Offset” means that the handleis set so that it projects out from the soleplate, meaning that it extends at least partially beyond the soleplateand is not facing the soleplate. For example, at least part of the handlecan extend backwards relative to the soleplate. The offset handlemakes the ironeasy to grip and ergonomic for the user, while allowing for interlocking shapes between the supporting portion of the ironand the docking portion of the base.

The headand the handleof the ironcan be fitted and attached to each other or made in one piece, for example in a single monoblock plastic housing produced by molding.

The soleplatecan comprise a substantially flat ironing side. The soleplatecan comprise at least one steam ventthat runs through the ironing side and is designed to vaporize the steam produced in the vapor chamber. The steam ventforms a hole for the steam outlet. The soleplatecan be made of stainless steel. The soleplatecan comprise a pointed front end and a rounded rear end that is wider than the front end, for improved ironing ergonomics.

When the supporting portion of the ironis positioned on the docking portion of the base, at least part of the soleplatecan project over the edge of the base, as illustrated by the non-limiting example in. Thus, at least a portion of the soleplateprotrudes from the base, which means it extends beyond the base, forward relative to the base, when the ironis resting on the base. The soleplatedoes not rest on the base, but extends out into the air. The basecan thus be even more compact because it does not have the size constraints of having to accommodate the soleplate. Most of the soleplate, or even all of the soleplate, can project over the edge of the basewhen the supporting portion of the ironis positioned on the docking portion of the base.

The supporting portion formed by the handleand/or the headof the ironcan each comprise one or more bearing areas that rest on one or more corresponding bearing areas on the docking portion of the basewhen the ironis set on the base. These bearing areas ensure an even more stable hold of the ironon the base.

The docking portion of the basecan form a convex top and the supporting portion of the ironcan form a concave hollow having an interlocking shape with the convex top of the docking portion of the base. The shape of the convex docking portion of the basethus substantially conforms to the concave shape of the handleand the headof the iron, so that the baseis at least partially housed between the handleand the headof the iron. Thus, the baseis even more compact, the ironis held even more securely on the baseand the risk of the irontipping over is further reduced.

More specifically, when seen from the side, the docking portion of basecan have a substantially triangular shape forming the convex top. The ironis thus held even more securely on the base. More specifically, the substantially flat bottom side of the basecan form a first side of the triangular shape, the docking portion designed to accommodate the handleof the ironcan form a second side of the triangular shape, and the docking portion designed to accommodate the headof the ironcan form a third side of the triangular shape. The second side and the third side each extend from the first side to form the convex top. The first side, second side and third side are adjacent to each other. The triangular shape of the docking portion further increases the compactness of the baseand helps keep the ironin place on the base.

The convex top can have a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section to further stabilize the hold of the ironon the base. The handlecan have a peripheral wall with shapes that are substantially complementary to the U-shaped arms, so as to further improve the hold of the ironon the base.

The tankcan have a shape that is substantially similar to the shape of the convex top of the baseand occupy substantially the entire convex top of the base, as illustrated by the non-limiting example in. The capacity of the tankand the compactness of the baseare thus optimized. More specifically, a wall delimiting the tankcan correspond to a wall of the docking portion of the base.

A tankfill openingcan be arranged in the tanknear the convex top of the base. This makes filling the tankeasier.

The household appliance can further comprise magnetic meansthat help keep the ironin position on the basewhen the supporting portion of the ironis seated on the docking portion of the base, as illustrated by the non-limiting example in. Thus, the ironrests stably on the base, with the risk of tipping over being further limited. The magnetic meanscan comprise a magnet housed in either the handleor the base. The magnetic meansthen further comprise a magnet with opposite polarity or a ferromagnetic materialhoused in the other of the grip handleand the base, facing the magnet.

As a variant, the household appliance can comprise any other means suitable for holding and/or locking the ironon the basewhen the supporting portion of the ironis seated on the docking portion of the base, for example mechanical fasteners, snap-in means, etc.

The handlecan extend mainly in a longitudinal gripping direction Dp, and the soleplatecan extend mainly in an ironing direction Dr.

The ironing direction Dr forms an angle α comprised between 30° and 40°, and advantageously around 35° with the longitudinal gripping direction Dp. This angle α results from the interlocking shape of the ironand the baseand helps ensure that the ironstays on the basewhile preserving the compactness of the baseand the ergonomics of the iron.

The headof the ironcan comprise a standand the handlecan comprise a beveled free end, as illustrated by the non-limiting example in. The beveled free endand the standare arranged so that the ironcan be set down on a supporting surface, such as a horizontal ironing board or floor, while bearing stably on the beveled free endof the handleand the standon the head. The standand the beveled free endallow the ironto be set down stably on a supporting surface, with no contact between the soleplateand the surface on which the ironis set. In particular, the beveled free endof the handlecan comprise a flat bottom surface, and the standcan comprise a flat bottom surface. The beveled free endof the handlecan correspond to a rear end of the iron. The standcan project backwards from the headof the iron. One end of the handleopposite the beveled free endof the handleis connected to the headof the iron. When the ironis set on the base, both the beveled free endand the standcan rest against the docking portion of the base. These two contact areas are sufficient to ensure the stability of the ironwhen it is resting on the base. Additional contact and/or bearing areas can be foreseen in other places on the iron. The magnetic meanscan be housed in the handlesubstantially at the level of the free beveled endof the handleand in the basefacing the free beveled endof the handle.

The basehas a rear end designed to accommodate the beveled free endand a front end designed to accommodate the headof the ironwhen the ironis set on the base. The rear end of the baseis longitudinally opposite the front end of the base. When the ironis set down on the base, the soleplatecan project at least partially beyond the front end of the base. The leadcan be connected on one hand to the handlesubstantially at the level of the beveled free endof the iron, in particular at the level of an upper wall of the beveled free end, and be connected on the other hand to the first end of the base.

The household appliance can also comprise a side tabfitted and attached to one side of the baseso as to accommodate a power cord on the baseand/or the leadin a space located between the side taband a side wall of the base. Thus, the user can easily and neatly store the power cord and the lead. Such a side tabis illustrated by the non-limiting example shown in. In particular, the basecan comprise a peripheral wall that laterally borders the docking portion, and the side tabcan be fitted and attached to the peripheral wall of the baseand optionally to the bottom side of the base.

The basehas a length, a width and a height. The length and the width of the baseare measured in directions orthogonal to each other and correspond to dimensions of the flat bottom side of the base, the lengthwise direction corresponding to a projection in the plane of the bottom side of the baseof the longitudinal gripping direction Dp of the ironwhen set on the base. The height of the baseis measured in a direction orthogonal to the length and width dimensions of the baseand perpendicular to a flat supporting surface such as an ironing board or floor on which the baserests. The ironhas a length, a width and a height, measured respectively in the length, width and height directions of the basewhen the ironis set on the base.

The length of the basecan be shorter than the length of the iron. Preferably, the length of the baseis less than 30 cm, and advantageously less than 25 cm.